Small History
Embryonic stem cells were discovered in 1981 by scientist Martin Evans. The studies are advancing rather quickly. However, there has been debate over the practice which has been taking place since the start. Should ES be studied and practiced? The stem cell debate hasn't only been amongst the general public. Political leaders began to debate over how to regulate and fund research involving human embryonic stem (hES) cells.
How Are hES Obtained?
For those unaware on how hES are obtained, they are harvested from human embryos. When stem cells are drawn from a living human embryos, it demands the destruction of said embryo. For some, the thought of destroying a human embryo can be undesirable, even at such an early state (3-5 days post-fertilization).
What Do Embryonic Stem Cells Do?
The question should be, what can't they do? The ES has the ability to form into ANY of the 200+ tissue types in the body. Scientists are able to grow these tissues and use them to help millions upon millions of patients in need of X tissue.
Some Questions To Overview/Ask Yourself
Does life begin at fertilization, in the womb, or at birth?
Is a human embryo equivalent to a human child?
Does a human embryo have any rights?
Might the destruction of a single embryo be justified if it provides a cure for a countless number of patients?
Since ES cells can grow indefinitely in a dish and can, in theory, still grow into a human being, is the embryo really destroyed?
SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Thoughts?
What are your thoughts/beliefs on this topic? Are you for or against it? Why? I'd like to see some well-thought responses.
Embryonic stem cells were discovered in 1981 by scientist Martin Evans. The studies are advancing rather quickly. However, there has been debate over the practice which has been taking place since the start. Should ES be studied and practiced? The stem cell debate hasn't only been amongst the general public. Political leaders began to debate over how to regulate and fund research involving human embryonic stem (hES) cells.
How Are hES Obtained?
For those unaware on how hES are obtained, they are harvested from human embryos. When stem cells are drawn from a living human embryos, it demands the destruction of said embryo. For some, the thought of destroying a human embryo can be undesirable, even at such an early state (3-5 days post-fertilization).
What Do Embryonic Stem Cells Do?
The question should be, what can't they do? The ES has the ability to form into ANY of the 200+ tissue types in the body. Scientists are able to grow these tissues and use them to help millions upon millions of patients in need of X tissue.
Some Questions To Overview/Ask Yourself
Does life begin at fertilization, in the womb, or at birth?
Is a human embryo equivalent to a human child?
Does a human embryo have any rights?
Might the destruction of a single embryo be justified if it provides a cure for a countless number of patients?
Since ES cells can grow indefinitely in a dish and can, in theory, still grow into a human being, is the embryo really destroyed?
SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Thoughts?
What are your thoughts/beliefs on this topic? Are you for or against it? Why? I'd like to see some well-thought responses.